Baby boomers: Looking for room to upgrade and small-town feel
Laurie Bethell, Chase International, special to reno.com and tahoe.com
Baby boomers are definitely the largest growing part of our population. While most of us assume that Empty Nesters and/or baby boomers need less space than they did while children were "flying around the coop", we may want to take another look at the statistics at what the aging population is looking for in the way of Real Estate. Of this group, 20% are considering moving in the next five to six years. And interestingly enough, two-thirds of this group want to live in a single family home, not a condo or an apartment. Only 11% would move to a town home, apartment or condominium. It seems many in the aging population want to enjoy a yard, want a hot tub to relax in and an entertainment space and deck or patio to entertain friends and family.
Baby boomers have paid for their children's schooling, decided where to live for the next few decades and likely experienced upgraded home environments; now they want upgrades in their own homes. Some of these amenities include a sauna, outdoor spa, designer kitchen, a workshop or crafts and hobby space, and an in-home theatre. Only 13% want to live on a golf course. Communities that have a recreation center sponsoring mixers, bridge clubs, Pilates and book clubs are highly desirable. Patio homes or residences that have exterior maintenance and yard work provided are also in demand, because the "lock and leave" concept is gaining popularity.
As for retiree destinations, you'd be surprised where the aging population is moving. While Florida and California are still among the most attractive states for the over-60 group, according to a recent Harris Poll, the top small-town locations are Gardnerville/Minden, Nev.; Pahrump, Nev.; Brevard, N.C.; Ocean Pines, Md.; and Del Rio, Texas. While Gardnerville/Minden made it in the top 10 locations, many people are not familiar with these lovely towns in the Carson Valley, which is one of the few areas in Nevada that is continuing to grow and see appreciation in real estate.
The old-fashioned feel of these towns, coupled with modern amenities, comparatively inexpensive real estate and a friendly, "down home" nature, welcomes everyone. With Lake Tahoe up the road, these towns provide the best of all worlds: night life, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, water skiing and beaches. Whether you are purchasing a home for when the snow flies in Tahoe and travel to your condo at Heavenly is impossible, or, you want a simple, quiet pace, where the weather is warmer than in Reno, or Lake Tahoe, small-town Nevada is the perfect place to buy.
<i>While her passion is locating the very best properties for her clients, at the very best prices, no matter what the price range, Laurie Bethell is also very motivated to sell a listed property in the shortest amount of time possible, while garnering the highest price for the property being sold. She believes that her skill set in marketing and sales comes from spending 12 years working in New York City as a sales manager at Lancome and Revlon, and then a Vice President for Swatch, managing sales for the Eastern United States. She has her Bachelor's degree and was selected by Revlon, while in New York, to attend ongoing negotiating seminars. After moving west to build a new life in Nevada, she and her family moved to Galena Forest 10 years ago, where she still resides. She has an 11-year-old son, a large "pound puppy", three cats and a leopard gecko. Laurie also volunteers in her community when time allows and is the president of a Southwest Reno business networking group. </i>
Baby boomers have paid for their children's schooling, decided where to live for the next few decades and likely experienced upgraded home environments; now they want upgrades in their own homes. Some of these amenities include a sauna, outdoor spa, designer kitchen, a workshop or crafts and hobby space, and an in-home theatre. Only 13% want to live on a golf course. Communities that have a recreation center sponsoring mixers, bridge clubs, Pilates and book clubs are highly desirable. Patio homes or residences that have exterior maintenance and yard work provided are also in demand, because the "lock and leave" concept is gaining popularity.
As for retiree destinations, you'd be surprised where the aging population is moving. While Florida and California are still among the most attractive states for the over-60 group, according to a recent Harris Poll, the top small-town locations are Gardnerville/Minden, Nev.; Pahrump, Nev.; Brevard, N.C.; Ocean Pines, Md.; and Del Rio, Texas. While Gardnerville/Minden made it in the top 10 locations, many people are not familiar with these lovely towns in the Carson Valley, which is one of the few areas in Nevada that is continuing to grow and see appreciation in real estate.
The old-fashioned feel of these towns, coupled with modern amenities, comparatively inexpensive real estate and a friendly, "down home" nature, welcomes everyone. With Lake Tahoe up the road, these towns provide the best of all worlds: night life, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, water skiing and beaches. Whether you are purchasing a home for when the snow flies in Tahoe and travel to your condo at Heavenly is impossible, or, you want a simple, quiet pace, where the weather is warmer than in Reno, or Lake Tahoe, small-town Nevada is the perfect place to buy.
<i>While her passion is locating the very best properties for her clients, at the very best prices, no matter what the price range, Laurie Bethell is also very motivated to sell a listed property in the shortest amount of time possible, while garnering the highest price for the property being sold. She believes that her skill set in marketing and sales comes from spending 12 years working in New York City as a sales manager at Lancome and Revlon, and then a Vice President for Swatch, managing sales for the Eastern United States. She has her Bachelor's degree and was selected by Revlon, while in New York, to attend ongoing negotiating seminars. After moving west to build a new life in Nevada, she and her family moved to Galena Forest 10 years ago, where she still resides. She has an 11-year-old son, a large "pound puppy", three cats and a leopard gecko. Laurie also volunteers in her community when time allows and is the president of a Southwest Reno business networking group. </i>
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